Nanotechnology Business News

FGV-Cambridge Collaboration to Produce Carbon Nanotubes and Graphene

(Nanowerk News) Felda Global Ventures Holdings Bhd (FGV) has collaborated with UK’s Cambridge University scientists to to produce the world’s first high-grade carbon nanotubes and graphene.

In a statement, FGV chairman Tan Sri Mohd Isa Abdul Samad said the world’s largest crude palm oil producer will be the pioneer in producing the nanotubes and graphene, which are by-products of crude palm oil and other hydrocarbons.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak witnessed the exchange of the memorandum of understanding documents between FGV group president and chief executive officer Mohd Emir Mavani Abdullah and Dr Krzysztof Koizol, chairman of Cambridge Nanosystems Ltd, which is a spinoff from the University of Cambridge.

Under the MoU, both parties will develop an innovative downstream production line of high-grade nanotubes and graphene using state-of-the-art and newly developed nano-systems technology.

This feat culminates years of efforts by scientists around the world to harness this promising material.

High-grade carbon nanotubes and graphene has the potential to launch a new generation of electronic devices that run faster while using less energy — a new era of nanotube electronics that has long been considered a potential successor to the silicon transistor.

Apart from electrical devices, carbon nanotubes and graphene have the potential usage for next-generation communication cables, including underwater cables.

By converting carbon-containing by-products, this revolutionary invention in green technology is expected to change global industries from aviation, oil and gas, electricity and nuclear power, among others, while paving the way for a safer and more sustainable ecosystem.

The proposed joint venture between FGV and Cambridge Nanosystems Ltd will form a strategic partnership that will enhance value for both parties.

FGV will provide the raw material for the production of carbon nanotubes and graphene while Carbon Nanosystems Ltd will provide proprietary technology to produce carbon nanotubes that is produced via a nano-systems technology.

Mohd Isa said the collaboration marks an achievement that will galvanise efforts by FGV to move towards non-food and high-value products.

“Green technology has strong potentials to stimulate economic growth while mitigating environmental degradation. With the growing momentum in scaling up the green agenda, at FGV, which is part of the Felda Group, the world’s largest palm oil operator of about 950,000ha of land, we are honoured that FGV has managed to attract the attention of researchers in the carbon nanotubes community.

“This has ultimately led in the collaboration with us to produce high grade carbon nanotubes, using the abundance of our palm oil plantation resources,” said Mohd Isa.

The team of scientists at Cambridge Nanosystems Ltd has a decade of research and development experience in carbon nanotubes.

Moreover, the heavy involvement of the lead scientist in the carbon nanotubes community has positioned the company as the world’s leading expert in carbon nanotubes.

“With the increasing demand for carbon naotubes and graphene globally, such as in the automotive, aerospace and consumer product industries, there is a ready market for us while at the same time, we continue to penetrate new markets.

“It is, therefore, a win-win situation for both FGV, which supplies the crude palm oil and reuses by-products as raw material, and Cambridge Nanosystems Ltd.

“Moving forward, innovation will remain our key emphasis. FGV will further explore various opportunities for smart partnerships in our continuous commitment to sustainable business through innovative palm-based products,” said Emir.

Source: Felda Global Ventures (press release)

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